China and South Korea ministers meet in Beijing to discuss regional cooperation and APEC

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met in Beijing on Friday, November 13, 2026, to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues. The meeting comes ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, from November 18 to 19. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is expected to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen.

Regional Stability and Economic Ties

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed regional affairs, including issues regarding the Korean peninsula. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun requested that China play a constructive role in bringing North Korea back into dialogue. According to a report by The Straits Times (China Edition), a delegation from the ruling party of North Korea traveled to China earlier this month. This follows reports from the same outlet that relations between China and North Korea have warmed markedly since late 2025.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that "peace on the Korean peninsula serves the shared interests of both South Korea and China." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, noted that "bilateral relations have returned to a positive track due to reciprocal visits by heads of state since late last year."

Economic cooperation remains a central focus for both nations as they approach the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2027. The two countries aim to expand cooperation in several sectors, including artificial intelligence, biomedicine, green and low-carbon industries, and the silver economy. South Korean exports to China have shown significant growth, reaching $26.98 billion in October 2026. This marks the fifth consecutive month that South Korean exports to China have exceeded the $20 billion threshold.

Diplomatic Momentum

This meeting in Beijing represents the second round of talks between the two foreign ministers in approximately three months, following their previous discussions in Seoul on August 19, 2026. Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that the visit by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun continues the momentum of sustained engagement and helps translate consensus into action.

The discussions reflect a period of increased diplomatic activity between the two neighbors. The current engagement follows a series of reciprocal visits by the heads of state of China and South Korea that began in late 2025. As the APEC summit approaches, both nations appear focused on stabilizing regional relations and strengthening economic ties across emerging technology sectors.

Glossary

• APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting — The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is a summit that concludes the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. It is scheduled to take place in November 2026.
• Korean peninsula — The Korean Peninsula is a geographic area that was referred to by ancient China as Cheonggu during the Old Chosŏn and Three Kingdoms periods. It is located to the east of China and above Silla.
• biomedicine — Biomedicine is one of the seven strategic emerging industries within the G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor. It is supported by the Yangtze River Delta G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor Biomedicine Industry Alliance.
• low-carbon industries — Low-carbon industries are sectors that cities often seek to attract through innovative approaches. These approaches can include circular economies, low-carbon ports, and food production.